Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1Peter 5:7-8
I cam home exhausted, wounded from the battle of a very long day, feeling the pressure and turmoil of a war raging on the inside and out. It feels like everything around me is under attack. I really just wanted to crawl in the bed and cover up my head and hide, but my day was not over yet. The only way to describe how I felt was like a full blown bloody battle was going on. I felt it in my spirit and saw evidence of it all around me at work, in my spirit, and finally at home, Emotions of everyone around me were on edge and I was the worst one of all. Then when I got home I was getting ready to go to a weekly Bible study and right before I left my little dog of 9 1/2 years was hit and killed by a car within five minutes of letting her outside. Oh how I cried already raw from an emotionally draining day that was the last straw. I just couldn't take it.
As I drove to Bible study my heart was even heavier I didn't want to go, I knew what was going on and that the events of the day were evidence of the spiritual warfare going on. Satan was on a warpath, not only against me, but against, it seems like everyone I know. And he is.
We as believers are under attack. When we come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and accept that gift of salvation, we are no longer our own, we have been bought and paid for with a price. Being children of God is wonderful, our sins are forgiven, we have new life in Christ and full access to God and His power. Along with all the goodness of God because we are still in this world we face struggles, hardships, and full blown attacks from the enemy. Why? He can't steal us back from God; we are no longer in the grip and bondage of sin. No, Satan can't have us, but he can do everything he can to keep us from showing others the light and the way to Jesus. If he can keep us so busy in the battle we will be so distracted with the fight our testimony suffers, because our attitude isn't on the power and glory of God, but our attitude is that of human nature. We get frustrated, emotional, and instead of His grace flowing out of us, we can get down-right nasty. It is a war we get so caught up in fighting in the flesh we completely lose sight of what is really going on and we end up coming home at the end of the day weary and worn out because we fought a battle in the human nature instead of the Spiritual power Gd is within us. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's (evil) schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the ruler, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12
See how evil the devil is, he distracts us with relationship problems, with co-workers, with family, and with friends. Problems arise at work out of nowhere. Traffic jams, illness, rebellious children, sudden and tragic loss in death. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 The devil will use everything we love against us to keep us from the abundant life we already have in Christ. He has one goal and that is to keep as many as he possibly can from knowing Christ and from having a close personal relationship with Christ because he is afraid of the power we possess in Christ. God has great plans for us and the devil knows it, but many of us miss those plans because he is so good at distracting us.
We live in defeat because we can't see past the problems for what they really are. There is only one way to defeat the enemy when he strikes; James 4:7, 8, & 10 says, "Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. ...Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.
Yesterday I realized the source of my grief, the turmoil I couldn't explain was an attack to keep me from the plans God has for me. And though I know today may be filled with just as m any attacks if not more. Today I am more alert and aware so I can submit to God
s authority over me and through me, and the devil will flee. Stand firm then don't allow distractions to keep you from your victory! Satan is already defeated! We are on the winning side. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. There will be peace when the battle rages on and on.
In HIS Time
Teresa
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Pictures from recent Book Signings @ Something Special in Daingerfield, and Holly Hill Homestead in Hughes Springs
Thank you Janice you really are Something Special! God bless you!
Jolene...you are the heart of the home! Thank you for a wonderful day at Holly Hill Homestead and the precious Valentine Tea and Book Signing. God bless you!
My heart is overwhelmed at the goodness of my special friends.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Latest Update on Book
Much work has been done behind the scenes. I've received a marketing report sheet and there have been about seven stores contacted for possible book signings and one is scheduled for May 15 in Mt. Pleasant. With lots of media from news papers to radio and tv stations. Please pray for God's favor to rest on each one contacted and the book will be sold not only through my east Texas area but everywhere. Best Seller list may be a far fetched dream, but my Bible tells me that with God all things are possible. If He wants this to happen...so do I! Thank you for your prayers.
Amazing Love How Great is His Love!
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! ...Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as He is pure. 1John 3:1&3
How could it be that Jesus would die for you and me? Why? All my life I have been taught the story of Jesus' birth, His ministry, and His sacrifice and resurrection, and in all my ability to understand I just cannot mentally understand it. Mos of us are concrete learners; we have to see it, touch it, use it, or experiment with it to get understanding. But we cannot do that with Jesus. We don't have the privilege that Thomas had to see and to feel the scars in Jesus' hands and feet and side. Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus first appeared to them after He was resurrected and when the disciples told him, he said unless I put my fingers into the nail scars in His hand and my hand into the scar on His side I will not believe.
In Thomas' defense think about it...Jesus died the most brutal death and all that sustains life in any human body was poured out of him through his wounds. No medical professional of today's best medical ability could have resuscitated Him immediately after death, but three days had passed before Jesus rose from the dead and walked among them again. It was only by the power of God that He exerted into Jesus life in His human body again. It was a miracle not anyone could believe unless they saw it for themselves.
Jesus came to where they were and told Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." ...Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:27-30.
Thomas and the others were blessed to be in Jesus' presence in the physical, but you and I are more blessed because we can't see or touch Him and we still believe. They had Jesus with them, He talked with them, He prayed with them, He taught them, He played with them, He worked with them. Everything we do on a daily basis, Jesus was right there with them working and playing with them. Jesus is with you and me too. He told the disciples that he had done great things while He was with them, but they and we would do even greater things, because after He went away in the physical the Holy Spirit would come into us and help us do greater things. When we completely give up everything and let Jesus have 100% of who we are there are no limits to what we can do.
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then how you live--not as unwise, but as wise, make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Ephesians 4:14-15
Experience your own resurrection, rise up from your sleep, you are no longer dead in your sins, but are alive in Christ who is waiting to do even greater things in you and through you than He did. The days we live in are evil, but we have the power that raised Christ from the dead at work in us to overcome all evil. The war is already won, the battle may still be raging around us, but we are more than conquerors because we believe in Jesus who we have not seen, but know He is alive and sitting at the right hand of the Father. One day He will come back again and our understanding will be like He is, full of His glory. Make life in Christ your priority. He paid a high price for you and I to continue to live in defeat one second longer. Rise and Shine and give God all the glory! Amen and Hallelujah forever and ever!
How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us? Amazing love we cannot comprehend but we can hold on to. As far as the east is from the west, to infinity and beyond, that is how much great His love is for you.
In HIS Time
Teresa
How could it be that Jesus would die for you and me? Why? All my life I have been taught the story of Jesus' birth, His ministry, and His sacrifice and resurrection, and in all my ability to understand I just cannot mentally understand it. Mos of us are concrete learners; we have to see it, touch it, use it, or experiment with it to get understanding. But we cannot do that with Jesus. We don't have the privilege that Thomas had to see and to feel the scars in Jesus' hands and feet and side. Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus first appeared to them after He was resurrected and when the disciples told him, he said unless I put my fingers into the nail scars in His hand and my hand into the scar on His side I will not believe.
In Thomas' defense think about it...Jesus died the most brutal death and all that sustains life in any human body was poured out of him through his wounds. No medical professional of today's best medical ability could have resuscitated Him immediately after death, but three days had passed before Jesus rose from the dead and walked among them again. It was only by the power of God that He exerted into Jesus life in His human body again. It was a miracle not anyone could believe unless they saw it for themselves.
Jesus came to where they were and told Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." ...Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:27-30.
Thomas and the others were blessed to be in Jesus' presence in the physical, but you and I are more blessed because we can't see or touch Him and we still believe. They had Jesus with them, He talked with them, He prayed with them, He taught them, He played with them, He worked with them. Everything we do on a daily basis, Jesus was right there with them working and playing with them. Jesus is with you and me too. He told the disciples that he had done great things while He was with them, but they and we would do even greater things, because after He went away in the physical the Holy Spirit would come into us and help us do greater things. When we completely give up everything and let Jesus have 100% of who we are there are no limits to what we can do.
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then how you live--not as unwise, but as wise, make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Ephesians 4:14-15
Experience your own resurrection, rise up from your sleep, you are no longer dead in your sins, but are alive in Christ who is waiting to do even greater things in you and through you than He did. The days we live in are evil, but we have the power that raised Christ from the dead at work in us to overcome all evil. The war is already won, the battle may still be raging around us, but we are more than conquerors because we believe in Jesus who we have not seen, but know He is alive and sitting at the right hand of the Father. One day He will come back again and our understanding will be like He is, full of His glory. Make life in Christ your priority. He paid a high price for you and I to continue to live in defeat one second longer. Rise and Shine and give God all the glory! Amen and Hallelujah forever and ever!
How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us? Amazing love we cannot comprehend but we can hold on to. As far as the east is from the west, to infinity and beyond, that is how much great His love is for you.
In HIS Time
Teresa
Sunday, April 4, 2010
How Great Our God Is
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him fo we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure. 1John 3:1-3
As light broke through the night sky this morning, I couldn't help but think about how blessed we are to have the opportunity to believe and be called the children of God. I compared the early morning light to how the light of God gradually shines brighter and brighter as we grown in him, its like coming out of the darkness slowly like night into day. God is so good to allow us to grow in Him and wait patiently as the light comes on inside us. He knows we couldn't handle the glory of his presence if it were like a light switch turning on...it would be just too bright.
But He has lavished his love on us and takes us as far as we can go and waits while we take it in then we move further through our journey. He is so very good to us.
This morning as more people than any other day of the year acknowledges Jesus Christ, dressed in their finest spring clothes I pray every morning from this day will be Easter monring in our hearts. Wake up tomorrow and give thanks at what Christ did so that you may be called exactly what you are in Him, Childred of God.
In HIS Time
Teresa
As light broke through the night sky this morning, I couldn't help but think about how blessed we are to have the opportunity to believe and be called the children of God. I compared the early morning light to how the light of God gradually shines brighter and brighter as we grown in him, its like coming out of the darkness slowly like night into day. God is so good to allow us to grow in Him and wait patiently as the light comes on inside us. He knows we couldn't handle the glory of his presence if it were like a light switch turning on...it would be just too bright.
But He has lavished his love on us and takes us as far as we can go and waits while we take it in then we move further through our journey. He is so very good to us.
This morning as more people than any other day of the year acknowledges Jesus Christ, dressed in their finest spring clothes I pray every morning from this day will be Easter monring in our hearts. Wake up tomorrow and give thanks at what Christ did so that you may be called exactly what you are in Him, Childred of God.
In HIS Time
Teresa
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Amazing works of God!
I just love it when God opens a window! Yesterday after several attempts to get the nerve up to contact KVNE to ask for them to promote my book I talked with Mike Harper and Monday morning during the early morning show with Mike and Carrie on KVNE 89.5 the interview will be aired. He told me it will also be placed on the Mike and Carrie blog with information on how to purchase the book and how to sign up for my daily email devotional.
I sat there for a while after the interview ended and just cried at God's goodness and at the miracle of using me to spread spiritual encouragement that can only come from God. I was overwhelmed to put it mildly.
I sat there for a while after the interview ended and just cried at God's goodness and at the miracle of using me to spread spiritual encouragement that can only come from God. I was overwhelmed to put it mildly.
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